Punjab: The Punjab government on Thursday decided to restore the security of all the 424 protectees whose cover it had pruned. The development comes days after popular Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala was — whose security was curtailed by the AAP government — shot dead in a daring daylight murder.
In a sealed cover, the Punjab government submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the security of all the 424 protectees will be restored from June 7th. The court was hearing a petition by former minister OP Soni, who is among the 424 VVIPs whose security was curtailed.
The Punjab Police, in an order last week, withdrew the security of the 424 VVIPS, which included former MLAs, Jathedars of two Takhts, heads of Deras, and police officers. Punjab DGP VK Bhawra has earlier said that Moose Wala’s security was withdrawn as additional forces were needed due to the anniversary of operation ‘Bluestar’ and Ghalughara massacre week that falls this month.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had on Monday asked the state government to explain the basis on which it pruned the security cover of over 400 protectees in the state. It also demanded to know from the state government whether the decision was taken after examining threat perception in each case.